Political Storm: ADC Accuses Authorities Of Assaulting El-Rufai’s Wife, Arresting His Doctor

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of denying former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai access to adequate medical care while in custody.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The party also alleged that El-Rufai’s personal physician was arrested and that his wife was physically assaulted during an altercation involving ICPC officials.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC claimed that El-Rufai had been taken to the National Hospital, Abuja, for medical treatment but was allegedly ordered back into custody despite recommendations that he be admitted for further care.

According to the party, objections raised by El-Rufai’s wife and his personal doctor over the decision reportedly resulted in a confrontation with ICPC officials.

The ADC described the alleged incident as a violation of El-Rufai’s fundamental rights and accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of using state institutions to target political opponents.

“The world should know today that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is holding a political prisoner in Nigeria by the name of Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai,” the party alleged.

The opposition party argued that no democratic government should deny a detainee access to medical treatment or prevent close family members from visiting.

According to the ADC, the issue extends beyond El-Rufai’s case and raises broader concerns about the state of constitutional democracy in Nigeria.

“The ICPC owes Nigerians immediate explanations. On whose authority was access to his family denied? Why has access to his doctor allegedly been refused despite concerns about his health? What legal basis exists for these actions? Why were El-Rufai’s wife and doctor allegedly assaulted by ICPC operatives?” the statement read.

The party further alleged that President Tinubu could not distance himself from the actions of anti-corruption agencies, arguing that ultimate responsibility rests with the Presidency.

The ADC called for immediate and unrestricted access for El-Rufai to his wife, children, legal representatives and personal medical practitioners.

It also demanded a review of what it described as punitive bail conditions, an end to what it termed harsh and degrading custody conditions, full compliance with constitutional safeguards governing the treatment of detainees, and greater transparency from the ICPC regarding the legal basis for the restrictions imposed on the former governor.

Among its demands, the party also called for an end to what it described as the use of state institutions for political intimidation and selective justice.

The ICPC had not responded to the ADC’s latest allegations as of the time of filing this report.